Register NOW for Rescue Rodeo!
It’s time for Rescue Rodeo —
TVCC’s introductory river safety course!
When: Sat, July 25, 2020; 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Location: Flip Flop Burger/ Hiwassee River
Registration
Student – $50.00
Volunteer
1) TVCC Annual Waiver Link for Participants to Sign:
https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/MHyj4KpbDpnPcSALLdNsPh/
2) TVCC Communicable Disease Waiver Link for Participants to Sign:
https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/yPFgvfQQfmQYqGdaw65a64/
Volunteers please preregister for course.
This class is designed to give the beginner kayaker basic river rescue skills to make whitewater trips safer and more fun. You will learn how to reenter a swamped boat, how to tow swimmers using your boat, equipment recovery techniques, how to swim in whitewater, and MUCH MORE This is a river rescue skills course the club has designed for new boaters. We will be running the Hiwassee River. You need to have the required skills and equipment. This is an all day course. The morning will be land based instruction. You will be on the water all afternoon. A meal will be provided at Flip Flop Burger after the course.
The course runs from 8:00 am EDT to 7:00 pm. Sign in is from 8:00-8:30.
There will be a $50 deposit for students that will be refunded after participation in the course.
REQUIRED GEAR:
*Paddle Gear: Boat, Paddle, Skirt, PFD and whitewater helmet.
*Clothing: Dress for the swim, and you will be swimming the Hiwassee, so be prepared for cold water! You will have an opportunity to change into your paddling clothes after we finish our morning classroom activities.
*Food: Bring your lunch and enough water for a full day on-and-off the river.
*Other: A chair.
You Must Bring the following items to participate in this training. These are not optional items. Due to COVID-19, these items are required for your personal protection and our paddling family. The following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required for this training trip: This is for everyone protection
· Face Covering (Facemask or Neck Gaiter)
· Resealable watertight bag (Ziploc bag, etc) for storing your Face Covering.
· Hand sanitizer or biodegradable soap
· Garbage bag large enough to contain your PFD, Helmet, Sprayskirt, and wet clothes for shuttling back from the takeout.
Notes for participants: Maintain social distancing of at least 6’ whenever possible
Face Coverings will be worn for any land-based activity
Face Coverings will be worn while shuttling
Face Coverings will not be worn on the water to prevent creating an additional hazard
Wash your hands as often as possible during training trips– try to use a biodegradable soap (camp soap is a good option)
The club will be setting up hand washing stations for your use at the training site
PREREQUISITE SKILLS:
*Students MUST know how to swim
*Students MUST be able perform a wet-exit without assistance.
*Students must be able to paddle Class I and II whitewater (Hiwassee River).
Smartwaiver: Must be completed prior to course
Covid19 waiver: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/yPFgvfQQfmQYqGdaw65a64/
TVCC waiver: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/MHyj4KpbDpnPcSALLdNsPh/
ACA waiver: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5e29c3ceb21d8/web/
You must be a TVCC member to participate. The Smartwaivers are good for one year.
If you are not an ACA member there will be a $5 charge
Contact Rob Theurer (423)-253-6012 hm, (423)-404-0347 cell
*Drug and alcohol use will not be permitted before or during on-water activities.
This year’s course will be held at Flip Flop Burger in Reliance TN. Primitive camping is available.
Dinner will be provided to participants after the course. We will be limiting to no more than 30 students this year.
****Preregistration is required no walk on will be allowed. ****
Sequatchie River CTS to the
Condra Switch bridge
When: Sat, July 11, 2020; 10:00 AM
Location: Dunlap, TN
We’ll meet at the Canoe the Sequatchie (CTS) ramp at 10 am EST, run shuttle, and put on. This is a 8.4 mile Class 1 paddle of 3 hours counting a break.
Please bring cash! There is a $3 fee for ramp for kayaks and $5 for canoes. Scott, the guy who runs Canoe the Sequatchie, uses the funds to keep the ramp area mowed and clean for us. His business has been down this year.
If interested email by 4 pm EST Thursday 9th and check your email that night for details. BG Smith bgsmith11@gmail.com
What makes it great:
The Sequatchie River flows through 70 miles of the Sequatchie Valley, the long and narrow divide between the Cumberland Plateau and Walden’s Ridge. Throughout time, the river has played a major role in the cultural and natural history of the Sequatchie Valley. Today, this historic waterway offers slow and easy paddling opportunities, as well as the chance to enjoy the Sequatchie Valley’s breathtaking landscape by water.
The Sequatchie River begins and ends in the valley. Its headwaters originate in the valley of Grassy Cove just east of Crossville and drain through a series of mysterious underground passages for 8-10 miles. The river emerges from the head of the Sequatchie Spring in Cumberland County, part of the Cumberland Trail State Park, winds through the scenic valley, then empties into the Guntersville Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River.
Remnants from early Archaic, Woodland and Mississippian communities remain within the landscape, including burial mounds, relics and recent cave art discoveries. Lands in the Sequatchie Valley belonged to the Cherokee Nation for generations; Cherokee fish traps (called fish weirs) are reportedly visible during times of low water.
In the 18th century, settlers began moving into the valley. A critical battle was fought between Native Americans and settlers near the base of the Sequatchie River in the late 1700s, which destroyed Cherokee leader Dragging Canoe’s villages of Nickajack and Running Water near Chattanooga. Land cessations began in the late 1700s and early 1800s until the Cherokee Removal of 1838.
The Civil War also played out along the riverbanks of the Sequatchie River. In October 1863, Confederate Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler led a cavalry raid against a Union supply train that was attempting to relieve besieged Federal troops at Chattanooga. Wheeler burned an estimated 1,000 wagons and captured livestock in the battle known today as Wheeler’s Raid.
Early industries consisted of gristmills on the Sequatchie River. One of the earliest mills was built by Norman Mansfield in the 1850s near present-day Highway 127. Residents brought their wheat and corn by horse or wagon to be ground into flour or meal.
The Sequatchie River has been, and continues to be, the water source used for the Dunlap Water System. Water is drawn from the river east of Dunlap off Old York Highway.
Please see below for safe paddling procedures – they are mandatory!
South Chickamauga Creek:
Graysville Dam to Camp Jordan 2
When: Sat, July 25, 2020; 10:00 AM
Location: Graysville,TN.
We’ll meet at the Graysville Dam at 10 am and unload and run shuttle before putting on. It’s a 7 mile 3.5 hour Class 1 paddle with a break.
If interested email/text me by 4 pm on Friday 24th and check your email that night for details. BG Smith bgsmith11@gmail.com or 703-398-7836
What Makes it Great
South Chickamauga Creek carves a peaceful green swath through the heart of the Greater Chattanooga Area and provides abundant habitat for wildlife, as well as opportunities for recreation. Wood Ducks, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Muskrats, Beavers, Barred Owls, and much more may be spotted along its banks, providing a truly wild experience within minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
Please see below for safe paddling procedures – they are mandatory!
Safe Paddling Procedures
By Flatwater Cruisemaster BG Smith:
You must sign both waivers!
1) TVCC Annual Waiver Link for Participants to Sign:
https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/MHyj4KpbDpnPcSALLdNsPh/
2) TVCC Communicable Disease Waiver Link for Participants to Sign:
https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/yPFgvfQQfmQYqGdaw65a64/
I need to know you are coming! So, let me know! Planning shuttles will be a little
harder.
I will ask you a couple questions at the river:
Are you feeling OK?
Have you had a fever or any typical flu-like symptoms in last 48-hours?
Have you been in contact with or have you been caring for anyone in last 14
days with known COVID-19 diagnosis or anyone with flu-like symptoms?
Do not come to the river if you are in doubt.
Bring a mask and plan to use it when we run shuttle. You will need to carry the
mask in your boat, in a dry bag or other waterproof container. NO MASK – NO
PADDLE! This is a hard stop. You will wear a mask during all shuttles. No
quibbling and no buts …
When we run shuttles, we will put no more than 4 people in a vehicle and space
them in the corner seats. Did I mention you will wear a mask in the
vehicle! Bring a mask – wear it! We will drive with A/C on, no recirculation
modes engaged, and the windows on the vehicle down! If you do not want to be
in a vehicle with others I understand and need to know that up front so the shuttle
plan can be properly arranged. We want you to paddle. We want you to feel
safe. We will figure out the shuttle to make it work. It may take extra vehicles.
As much as possible, handle your own gear. Carrying boats is OK, by the
bow/stern grab handles. Limit handling other people’s gear unless from same
family group.
If we have big groups to launch and head down river, we will break up into
smaller groups of about 10 people and launch in those smaller groups. I will
assign a lead and sweep to each of these groups.
On the river we will stay spaced by about 6+ feet. This is pretty much what
happens anyway, just we will actually be cognizant now!
No sharing of food, drinks, snacks on the river! Bring your own!
Bring hand sanitizer and any other sanitizers you are comfortable with. I will
have a big bottle of hand sanitizer and a spray bottle of disinfectant to wipe down
vehicles as needed.